Rabbit 2012

Who is a Rabbit?

Years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999.
Month*: March
Hour: 05.00 am – 07.00

* Caution:the start of the Chinese month can be as early as the 4th & as late as the 9th, depending on the year. I can let you know this too.

What is a Rabbit?
The Rabbit is yin wood essentially gentle and domestic. Her time is early morning; the legend has it that she and the Rooster swapped places which is why the cock crows in the Chinese Zodiac not at dawn but at dusk. The Rabbit rules the Spring therefore – think of March Hares and Easter Bunnies – and the Rooster the autumn.
The Rabbit is subtle, in keeping with her yin nature. She provides service readily and is often suited to catering and caring. But her preparedness to roll up her sleeves makes her the unexpected queen of networking. If you want to be introduced to the person in charge, ask a Rabbit.
The Rabbit can wait her turn; vigilance and patience are typical.
Her natural allies are the Pig and the Sheep. This is a house-proud team and the Rabbit is a team player. Her unexpected friend is the Dog who values her ability to charm without threat.
The Rabbit also belongs to the gathering known as the Flowers of Love (or Plumflowers) along with the Horse, the Rooster and Rat. She may often find herself clearing up behind these three extroverts and quite often the cuddle-bunny will obtain a life partner from the leavings of her more obviously glamorous colleagues.
The Rabbit tends to be conservative with a small “c”. Early rising is typical but this tendency to the yang of early alertness may be demonstrated by the yin of sleeping in. Lazybones or insomniac, sleeping is an issue.
Because of the unflattering connotations of the local word for Rabbit, in Vietnam this branch is called the Cat. Intuitively this does not sit right. The ideogram so clearly has ears. Yin wood relates to the eyes and to the Spring, leaves and flowers and grass, none of which are feline attributes.
In some ways the Rabbit epitomises yin. Yang wood may be best characterised as an upwards movement like the growth of a tree. Yin wood is more of an outward expansion like the spreading off grass. What these two expressions of wood have in common is irresistibility. But they are very different types of irresistibility. To counter yang wood we need yang metal: an axe will cut down the biggest tree. But you could attack a lawn with that same axe and not remove all the grass in a lifetime. This is the power of yin wood.
Wood is both stubborn and flexible. Yin wood (as characterised by soen, the wind of the South East) is thorough as well as organised. Hexagram 53 of the Book of Changes, Gradual Progress describes this: the tree grows against all the odds either because it throws itself absolutely upon the mercy of the tao or because it has a detailed plan that it follows meticulously. Or both.
The Dragon is said to lose money when the Rabbit arrives. This may be because the Dragon is distracted by his neighbour who is so apparently different in nature. This is not a great pairing but the fact is that the Rabbit sitting between the Tiger and the Dragon shares qualities with both. Partnership with the Tiger is sometimes formalised as the House of Diplomacy. The Rabbit offers carrot while the Tiger wields a stick. This arrangement exemplifies the truism that more is achieved with a kind word and a gun than with a kind word alone.
Wood represents bone, spine and hair as well as eyes: the light is fire but the receiving organ is wood. The Rabbit is often not strong in these regards unlike the Tiger. This is yin and yang.

The Rabbit: Outlook for 2012

The Rabbit is yin Wood and Wood is at a premium this year. Traditionally the Rabbit draws heavily on the Dragon. For buck Rabbits this is relationship stuff; be aware just how demanding you are especially when it seems to be the other way round. For does it’s about money; you might make some this year. Such wealth will be hard earned but could be substantial, and quite out of proportion to your previous achievements. For the male Rabbit this translates that by year’s end the strength of your relationship will have been well tested. If you didn’t think you could rely on your wife/mistress/lover/partner before, you will know that you can by then. You may be distracted but they won’t.

Most of this will be apparent early in the year: February, March and April. These are the Wood months. As the Fire arrives, you may be less energetic and you would do well to care for your diet. Most Rabbits gain from a spell of vegetarian fare and in the summer of a Dragon year, it may be important. As a rule also, too much sun doesn’t suit you.

The Rabbit is the most domestic Animal; although you may travel in July, February and November of 2012, travel may be over shorter distances than you have become used to.

Don’t be over ambitious this year. Some tasks are beyond you and you may have to choose between objectives. It’s unlikely your dreams will come true without risk, in fact being over safety conscious could snooker you. You need to look closely at what is risky and what is not as you may have these things the wrong way round.

But above all this year is about cooperation. You are the host/ess, the diplomat of the Chinese Zodiac. You know how to do this.

However one of the characteristics of 2012 is that change is sudden while the causes are indirect. The Rabbit, for instance suffers the “Ingratitude Clash” with the Rat. The Rat is the Dragon’s organiser, factotum, confidante and right hand man. So as the Rat’s influence grows, the Rabbit finds that those things she has taken for granted are threatened. What is called for is probably an examining of roles. Do what you do best not the jobs you appear to be left with. This is true also for your partner or partners.

Similarly your opposite, the Rooster, is the Dragon’s sidekick of choice. If you can, hitch your fortunes to those of a Rooster. You have to be both strong and honest for this because there is antipathy between you at some level. If you don’t know a Rooster, this is about grooming and record keeping. Be meticulous about your appearance but also be very clear what your assets are in every sense.

This looks like a fun year relationshipwise. Could be hot actually which may be good or bad news depending upon your marital status. Like your nemesis the Rooster, the Rabbit’s weakness can be a failure to be true to yourself. Use this (self-) knowledge as you will.